Sit-at-home orders enforced by terrorist groups in Nigeria’s South-East are reportedly losing their grip, according to National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. He made this known during a presentation at the All Progressives Congress (APC) national summit, where he gave an overview of the country’s security progress under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.
Ribadu explained that the Tinubu administration came into power facing major security challenges in different parts of the country. These included the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, separatist actions in the South-East, unrest in the Niger Delta, and herder-farmer clashes in the North-Central zone.
He noted that the government, through collaboration among security forces, has made progress in reducing attacks, kidnappings, and other forms of violence. Ribadu also gave figures to show the government’s achievements. Over 13,500 Boko Haram fighters have been killed in operations in the past two years. More than 11,000 weapons were also recovered and destroyed during this period.
According to the NSA, around 124,000 Boko Haram members and their families have turned themselves in since President Tinubu assumed office. These developments, he said, show that the security forces are regaining control across troubled regions.
Ribadu pointed out that in the South-East, the effectiveness of the sit-at-home order is fading. “In the South-East, a welcome development is that the sit-at-home orders are becoming increasingly ineffective,” he said. He also shared that key leaders of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Eastern Security Network (ESN) have been either captured or killed. He mentioned that over 50 police stations have been rebuilt and attacks on security officers have declined.
Life, according to Ribadu, is gradually returning to normal, with markets and schools reopening and economic activities picking up. He added that the North-West has also seen progress, with more than 11,000 kidnapped victims freed and major bandit leaders taken down.
While Ribadu admitted that challenges remain, especially in areas like the Timbuktu Triangle and Tumbu Islands, he said ongoing military efforts continue to push back armed groups.
